Poor Our Japan Story has taken a back-seat this term. This is reflective of almost everything, other than studying, taking a back seat. I knew graduate school would be difficult, but I had no idea how all-consuming it would be! Firstly, the sheer amount of reading required has been overwhelming. An academic article that is…
Onjuku – Chiba Prefecture
In August, to celebrate the birth of my beloved, Dan, we took a long weekend trip to the area of Onjuku. Onjuku is in Chiba Prefecture on the east coast of Japan, with the beautiful sparkling sea of the pacific ocean to enjoy. We visited on a bank holiday weekend, seemingly with the rest of…
New Home, Brave New World
My posts have been lacking of late. This has not been because of a lack of care or concern for Our Japan Story, but rather because of the start of a brave new chapter in our, frankly wonderful, life in Japan. When Dan and I made the decision to move to Japan in August 2016,…
Koenji Awa Odori Festival 2019
Koenji is not only famous for its vintage shops and vegan restaurants, but also for its yearly Awa Odori festival. These festivals happen all over Tokyo but Koenji is infamous for it’s size, dancers, and overall party-vibe atmosphere. The festival falls in summer and it is a dance festival, characterised by the tall straw hats…
Revitalising in Paradise
In July 2019 I took a week long trip to Miyakojima, in Okinawa. This was a solo holiday, and my first solo holiday for some time. I needed some space from Tokyo (not my wonderful Dan of course!) and some time to relax and rest – my first in a while! The island is in…
One Year in Tokyo Town
1st August 2019 marks one year of living in Tokyo and three years of living in Japan. It is hard to believe how quickly and slowly the time has passed! Life in Tokyo has been full of energy, new experiences, bureaucratic challenges, and most significantly, change. The past year has marked some incredible and life…
Our First City Onsen
Dan and I used to go to the onsen quite frequently when we lived in the Japanese countryside. An onsen is the name of a Japanese hot spring bath, and it is a popular way to unwind and relax. It is a communal bathing experience, so only for those who feel comfortable with this. There…
Moving Again
At the end of June Dan and I got the exciting news that come August 28th, we would be doubling the size of our living quarters! This really is something special, as right now we live in a one room space, 17 squared metres in size. For a regular sized couple, as opposed to a…
Rotary Class of XVI, Annual Peace Conference: 15th June 2019
On the 15th June 2019, Dan and I attended the Rotary Peace Centre at International Christian University for the 17th Annual Peace Conference. This also marked the graduation of the class of 16 cohort. The conference was a chance for graduating fellows of the 16th cohort to share their research findings and reflect on their…
Reflection: Future Me
Teaching English as a Foreign Language is often both rewarding and frustrating, for the teacher and the students. Some days the learning can go so well, with key learning points being embedded and easily recalled by students. On these days the atmosphere is high and the engagement even higher! Yet in other days, the activities…